Matthew Hemming, UK

Red: Clos de Tart 1945White: Corton Charlemagne 2000 Bonneau du MatrayBudget red: Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2006 Meo CamuzetBudget white: Bourgogne Blanc 2006 RoulotRosé: Bollinger 2002Sweet: Pinot Gris Clos Jesbel SGN 2007 Zind HumbrechtSparkling: Bollinger 1999Fortified: Merchant Prince Rutherglen MuscatDud: POX and my (now deceased) carThing: BeefComment: Perhaps a boringly predictable list? Neither budget wine was particularly 'budget' but they stand out as wines I bought in case quantities at prices at which I was happy to
open them in reckless abandon at my 30th birthday lunch. The Bahans HB 2001 I used at the same lunch would also count as it was an auction bargain (~£180/cs!) but the Meo was just nicer. Oeno
1996 competes with the Bolly 1999. The 99 was the last of Mentzendorff's UK stock and the last disgorgement prior to moving to the 2000. I got mags for the birthday and it was totally delicious.TOM: Boringly predictable - if that means 1945 Clos du Tart, Grand Cru white Burgundy and rare Champagnes and sweet whites I'll have some boring predictability too!

Chris Hewson, UK

Red: Bovin (Macedonia) Alexandar, Tikves, 2008White: Rolly Gassmann Gewurztraminer (France) Alsace, 2007Budget red: Paulie Heins Cabernet-Merlot (South Africa) Single Vineyard, 2006Budget white: Bodegas Naia (Spain) K-Naia, Castilla y León, 2008Sweet: Argyros Vinsanto (Greece), Santorini, 1989Sparkling: Le Mesnil (France) Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, 2002Fortified: Grahams 1980Dud: Andean Vineyards (Argentina), Condor Peak Mendoza, 2006Thing: The realisation that 2011 is going to be... interestingComment: The Bovin was a real eye opener, and the QPR had me reeling to the extent I bought 2 cases on the spot. The Paulie Heins was an inconseqential bottle, bought some time ago from
Virgin for little over a fiver - took it to a party, and wished I'd kept it for myself (and in the end virtually did). I could also have mentioned any number of Santorini whites... and their
Vinsanto's are vastly underpriced, albeit the one mentioned is c.£60, most are in the £20's.TOM: The Bovin wines are unknown to me, but I will try to rectify that. I like the strikingly modern wines of Bodegas Naia too - alwayd beautifully made.

David Ludlow, UK

Red: Chateau Haut Brion 2000White: Vergelegen The White 2006Budget red: Terrasses de Maynard Saint Chinian - Roquebrun 2007Budget white: Domaine Magellan Grenache Blanc 2007Rosé: Domaine Ott 2009Sweet: Chateau Doisey-Daene 1989Sparkling: Ridgeview Merret Fitzrovia Rose 2004Fortified: Sainsbury's Taste the Difference AmontilladoThing: Enjoying the late Autumn sunshine in CreteComment: The Haut Brion 2000 was a fantastic wine, even if I was drinking it several years too young. It pipped a Flacionella 1997 for wine of the year. The white from Vergelegen was
one of the white hghlights of the year together with Hamilton Russel Chardonnay 2008, Planeta Cometa 2008 (100% Fiano) and also Pieropan La Rocca Soave 2007. The Amontillado is excellent and has
shown up how good the Taste the Difference range can be.TOM: Château Haut-Brion and its sibling La Mission Haut-Brion are getting a huge number of mentions so far this year - much more than any of the other Bordeaux first growths.
As one of my favourite, and I think comparatively under-appreciated estates, I am delighted with that.

Tom Hewson, UK

Red: Escoda-Sanahuja (DO Conca de Barbara, Spain) 'Les Paradetes' 2006White: Ascheri (Piedmont, Italy) Montelupa Viognier 2005Budget red: Bodegas Carchelo (Jumilla, Spain) 'Carchelo' 2008Budget white: Sartarelli (Marche, Italy) Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi 'Tralivio' 2008Rosé: Nicodemi (Montepulciano, Italy) Ceruasolo 2008Sweet: Stefano Mancinelli Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi 'Goti' 2007Sparkling: Paul Bara 2000Fortified: Romate Amontillado 'NPU'Dud: Henri Giraud Code Noir NVThing: Preservino wine preserving doo-daComment: This has been a year of Italian discovery for me. Verdicchio surely has the potential to be one of Europe's greatest white grapes. Mancinelli's late-harvest 'Goti' was one of the wine
experiences of the year for me; mad but brilliant.
Ascheri's Viognier is a slap in the face to all those that say the grape doesn't age well - if Italian merchant Bat and Bottle still have some, buy it (even if it's a bit late for Christmas lunch
this year). Extraordinary stuff.
Lastly, the blanc de noirs 'Code Noir' from Giraud was burly, coarse and awkward for the price. Oak fermented blanc de noirs champagne is obviously a difficult act to pull off....
some more scribblings at www.tomhewson.com/foodwineTOM: Another interesting list exploring Spain and Italy. I do agree that the Verdicchio wines of Castelli di Jesi rarely disappoint, and at around £6 or £7 for really good examples
in stores like Majestic and Waitrose, there are wines well worth trying.

Benjamin Cain, UK

Red: Beringer, Cab Sauv Reserve, 1994White: Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, 1990Budget red: Torbreck, The Juveniles, 2001Budget white:Henksche, Tilly's Vineyard, 2008 Rosé: Dom Perignon Rose, 1986Sweet: Willi Opitz, Opitz 1, 1997Sparkling: Dom Perignon, 1990 MagnumFortified: Gonzales Byass, NoeDud: Damargi, Gaja, 1994Thing: A free holiday in L.A courtesy of winning it on Classic FM (UK)Comment: A mixed year wine wise but one where keeping fizz and having the strength not to drink it early has paid off with some glorious bottles.TOM: We had the pleasure of Torbreck's owner/winemaker Dave Powell at wine-pages Glasgow 'miniBOWL' event in May and the wines went down a storm. Congratulations on the free
holiday in California too! We also holidayed there in the summer, but sadly not as prize winners :-)

John Lamond, UK

Red: Chateau Leoville Barton ((France), St. Julien 1989White: Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot (France), Vougeot 2001Budget red: Palataia Pinot Noir (Germany), Pfalz 2009Budget white: Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling (Australia) Clare, 2007Rosé: Cellier des Esperides (France), Cotes de Provence 2009Sweet: Torcolato (Italy), Veneto 2003Sparkling: Bollinger Grande Annee (France), Champagne, 2000Fortified: Guimaraens (Portugal) Port 1996Dud: Robert Skalli Syrah (France) Languedoc 2008(?)Thing: The sunroomComment: Discovery of the year was the vast improvement in the quality of M&S's wine offeringTOM: I had the 2000 vintage of the Leoville-Barton just a couple of evenings ago and it was my Christmas highlight. Agree on the improved quality of the M&S wine range over the
past couple of years, and John probably knows his budget red is made by one of the wine buyers responsible for that, who as since left M&S to make wines in the Pfalz.

Richard Zambuni, UK and USA

Red: Allemand (France) Cornas Reynard 1991White: Jadot (France) Le Montrachet 2004Budget red: Barruol (France) Gigondas St Cosme 2001Budget white: Leitz (Germany) Rideshiemer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett 2007Rosé: Domaine de Chevalier (France) rose 2009Sweet: Huet (France) Vouvray Le Mont moelleux 1950Sparkling: Pol Roger (France) Vintage Champagne 1998Fortified: La Gitana (Spain) Manzanilla nvDud: Chateau de Beaucastel (France) Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1998Thing: My two back-to-back Cornas offline dinners at 28-50Comment: I know, I know - these are all European wines. I do drink the occasional NZ, Australian, American, Chliean wine etc. but they nearly always seem to not be worth the effort or expense
compared to the elegance and completeness of the the terroir-driven wines of Europe. I will keep trying other wines, but I always come back to Europe. Cornas is one of my very favourite wines, and it
was a great year for drinking Cornas both from my cellar and at offlines. When I offered to organize an offline centred on Cornas I was overwhlemed by the response and ended up running two
back-to-back dinners at 28-50 where we tasted the great and the good of Cornas back to 1983 with most wines being a very great pleasure to drink. The Allemand Reynard from 1991, 1994 and 2001 were highlights, but there were another ten wines of great stature and more importantly of pure pleasure in that line-up - you just have to give these wines time. I have picked out the Allemand Reynard 1991 as my red of the year - it was superb. There\'s always a danger that wines like Le Montrachet are over-rated on the basis of their appellation alone, but the Jadot 2004 was stunning - perhaps the best dry white wine I have ever drunk (thank you David W). Apart from some of these grand wines, I got much pleasure from some that are very affordable and very available. La Gitana is always a delicious aperitif, and the Domaine de Chevalier rose, while a little recherche, was all you could ask for in a simple, fresh rose wine. On the sweet front, there were many potential contenders this year. One of the good things about offlines is that we often end on a glass of something sweet and this gives me a chance to try more sweet wines than I do at home where consuming a whole bottle (or even half bottle) between two is more of a challenge. Thinking of challenges, it was at Neil Holland\'s vintage pairs event that I got to taste the Huet Le Mont moelleux 1950 - what nectar. I love old chenin blanc wines. Finally to the dud - my Ch de Beaucastel 1998 was a soupy mess at the Beaucastel vertical early in the year. Very disappointing. Chapoutier's Chante-Alouette Hermitage blanc 1999 has also been a serial failure when pulled from a case
bought en primeur and stored impeccably. Finally, I jsut want to say how much of a pleasure it has been to meet, drink and eat with so many generous and engaging friends from the UK Wine Forum over 2010.
It wouldn't have been the same without them. Here's to a great 2011 on the wine front.TOM: If that rosé is from the Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac-Légnan I confess I did not know it existed, let alone know what it tastes like! No need to apologise for
a Euro-centric list here, as despite plenty of New World brilliance, surely nobody could deny that Europe is still responsible for so many of the world's finest expressions of grape and place?

Derek Salmon, Australia

Red: Bethany LE ShirazWhite: Peter Lehmann Wigan Eden Valley RieslingBudget red: Pikes Eastside Cab Sav 2008Budget white: Yalumba Pewsey Vale Riesling 2010Sweet: D'arenberg The Mud PieSparkling: Krug RoséFortified: Seppeltsfield Paramount Collection TokayDud: Henschke Hill of Grace 2006Thing: Expecting First child / First Head Chefs PosistionComment: Some great wines tasted and wine dinners attended. Mclaren Vale grenache 2009 looking great. Mclaren Vale 'bushing king' lunch is a must do experience.TOM: I judged the McLaren Vale wine show a couple of years ago and had a great time, though unfortunately I had to come home just as they were about to crown the
'bushing king'. Congratulations on the imminent baby - and job!

Jonathan Beagle, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong

Red: 1985 La Tache, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, FranceWhite: 1991 Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco, Lopez de Heredia, SpainBudget red: 2006 Roero 'Sergentin', Fabrizio Battaglino, ItalyBudget white: 2009 Colori del Sud, IGT Sicilia, Fuedo Montoni, ItalyRosé: 2008 Rosae di Nebbiolo, Nada Giuseppe, ItalySweet: 1950 Chateau d'YquemSparkling: 1996 Clos de Goisses, Philipponat, (2006 Disgorgement)Fortified: 1985 Fonseca Vintage Port, Douro, PortugalDud: 1990 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, FranceThing: Unknown Piemonte Producers making great wine at good prices.Comment: Another fun year of interesting and eclectic wines, and some real treats with good friends and good memories of the vinious year, which brought a new start and moving to working
on my own and for myself!TOM: Two from the fab 1985 vintage (so many of these 25-year-old wines still showing so well, from almost every corner of the globe). I have tasted that 1990 Mouton a couple of times,
but not for eight years I see from my records. I noted it was a bit dilute and did not seem to have the balance for ageing, so maybe that predicition was true... Surprised you get time to drink
anything with all that globe-trotting though Jonathan :-)

Jamie Hutchinson, UK

Red: Henri Jayer (France) Vosne Romanee 1993White: Chateau Grillet (France) Cuvee Renaissance 1970Budget red: Bilbainas (Spain) Vina Pomal Crianza 1978Budget white: Charles Hours (France) Clos Urolat Jurancon Sec 2005Rosé: Chateau d'Esclans (France) Garrus 2008Sweet: Coutet (France) Barsac 1971Sparkling: Roses de Jeanne (France) Creux d'Enfer 2006 RoséFortified: Equipo Navazos (Spain) La Bota de Manz Pasada No 20Dud: Charvin (France) Chateauneuf-du-pape 2007Thing: Hardy (England) featherlight 3-weight fly reel, timeless.Comment: It's been a pretty hectic year, but happily I've managed to slip in some decent wine along the way. The top red was the hardest - early highlights included my favourite
totally unready wine, with a barrel sample of Chateau Margaux 2009, and finished with some lovely wines like Cos 1929 and Palmer 1961, but it was the Jayer, drank at Michel Bras
over a wonderful dinner that really made the biggest imprint. It didn't last long, but for 30 minutes that wine soared from the glass, in my imagination oozing its aromas over the lip of the glass
and covering the entire table. Another very notable wine was the Charvin 07 - never have I had such filth in a glass. Everything about the winemaking and intentions I like the sound of,
but the result was sickly beyond redemption. Must try it again at some point in the future. I've also been a convert to drag-less fly reels. When I rarely catch anything, and when I do its
tiny, whats the point of titanium-carbon braking systems that weigh a tonne and make a racket when you can use your thumb instead.TOM: A very classic selection there, and all European - but at least that includes the 'dud' :-) I haven't tasted the Charvin '07, but know it has something of jury-splitter,
with some finding the sweetness and oak overdone.

Jem Netley, UK

Red: Cahuil Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Chile) Leyda Valley, 2008White: Viognier Roussane, Romaneaux Destezet (France) 2007Budget red: Château de Caraguilhes Rouge (France), Corbières, 2006Budget white: The Naked Grape Riesling (Germany) Pfalz, 2008Rosé: Chateau d'Esclans (France) Garrus 2008Dud: Originel, Clos de la Bruyere (France) CourtoisComment: The Originel wasn't so much a dud, as not what I was expecting. Definitely an acquired taste but I have two bottles still to go.TOM: The Wine Gang also picked the Cahuil Single Vineyard Pinot Noir as our 'Great Value Red Wine of the Year', and at a reasonable £14.99 it's a great choice here.

Leon P E Markham, UK

Red: Haut Brion 1988White: Domaine Dujac Morey St Denis 2002Budget red: Domaine David Clark Bourgogne Rouge 2007Budget white: Domaine Treloar Terre Promise 2007 (I think? served at a winemakers' dinner)Rosé: Bollinger NV RoséSweet: Climens 2005Sparkling: Pol Roger 1999Fortified: M&S Dry Oloroso by LustauThing: My son AlexComment: Lots of travel chaos through the year - hugely disappointing not to be able to see loved ones at important times - but good for the soul I think to be reminded that all
of us, rich or poor, are subject to the whims of nature and circumstance...TOM: Congratulations on Alex (whom I presume is a new addition!) and on a lovely list: I have yet to taste the Burgundies of Scotsman David Clark, but really must
correct that.

Will Cashman, Ireland

Red: DRC Grands Echezeaux 1991White: Vincent Dancer Chevalier Montrachet 2007Budget red: Roumier Chambolle 2004Budget white: Emrich Schoenleber Monzinger Riesling 'Mineral' 2007Rosé: NV Billecart Salmon Rosé (Magnum)Sweet: Selosse Champagne Exquise NV Sparkling: 2004 Diebolt Vallois Fleur Du PassionFortified: N.V. Emilio Lustau Dry Amontillado Los Arcos Solera ReservaDud: Mayer Nakal SpatburgunderThing: UK Forum Offlines in Ireland!Comment: It was another great year for wine. I attended a few, really fun offlines and was delighted that we had 3 in Ireland this year (1 in Belfast and 2 in Dublin). Hopefully we'll
be able to have more next year. I travelled to Germany (Mosel/Nahe) for the first time and have really started to enjoy their rieslings, although Spatburgunder remains a mystery to me.
I'll certainly be back there sooner rather than later. The Emrich Schoeleber Riesling was one of the first bottles I tasted over in the Nahe and I was blown away by the pure deliciousness that the
wine presented. There were lots of great wines this year and it was tough coming up with the final selections. The DRC stood tall at a burgundy offline, the Dancer Chevalier was shared with a
good friend and the Diebolt Vallois Fleur shone against many more prestigious wines. The Selosse Exquise was brilliant at the Burgundy offline but wasn't half as good in December, once
again proving that there are only great bottles not great wines. I bought the Roumier Chambolle cheaply a few years ago and it has showed really on a couple of occasions this year, thankfully
free from green ladybird notes. Hopefully next year will be another great year for wine!TOM: Sneaking in three Champagnes, eh? It is great to see UK Wine Forum members like Will keeping up the 'offlines' (occasions when people who meet on the forum actually get
together to drink some wine) outside of London.

Oliver North, UK

Red: AN2 2007, VdT MallorcaBudget red: Papa Luna 2007, CalatayudBudget white: Dr L Riesling 2009Sweet: Seifried Sweet Agnes Riesling 2009, NZFortified: Lustau Palo CortadoDud: Chateau Musar 2002Thing: The Canton Arms, StockwellTOM: The Siefried was a 'Wine of the Week' for me and it is great to be able to buy NZ's sweet wines in the UK now after a trading embargo was lifted. Lustau is doing very well in
the fortified category so far this year.

Andrew Stevenson, UK

Red: Plantagenet (Australia) Shiraz 1999White: Poggio Argentiera (Italy) Alture, IGT Maremma Toscana 2007Budget red: União das Adegas Cooperativas do Dão (Portugal), Adro da Sé Reserva, 2001Budget white: Antech (France) Crémant de Limoux, Cuvée St Laurent 2008Rosé: Ch. de Blaceret-Roy (France) I love you Gamay Aromatique Méthode Ancestrale NVSweet: Moët & Chandon (France) Grand Cru Les Vignes de Saran NVSparkling: 2004 Diebolt Vallois Fleur Du PassionFortified: Gonzalez-Byass (Spain, Sherry) Tio Pepe 'En Rama' NVDud: Volcano Winery (USA, Hawaii), Macadamia Nut Honey Wine NVThing: PDANet by junefabrics.comComment: It's been a bit of a quiet year wine-wise, largely reflecting personal circumstances. There were lots of ties for each of the categories, except fortified, where the
Tio Pepe was an easy standout though from a very limited field. Whites and particularly sweeties were the most difficult from which to choose a winner. The Alture just pips it from a very
strong field by being a bit different: a Tuscan sauvignon blanc! The number of sparkling wines in my selection surprises me. There were actually a couple of better rosés, including a Beaujolais
Rosé from the same producer as my final choice, but the "I Love You" stands out from simply being such fun. Not a serious wine at all, but just brings a smile to the face when drinking it.
The Antech Cuvée St Laurent comes from The Wine Society and is great value for £7.50 a bottle (dozen price), but when you take into account the quality, it's amazing.
The dud was at one of the few UK forum offlines I've managed to attend this year. Bizarre and seriously unpleasant drinking. Fortunately it didn't take the edge off a fantastic evening.
For thing of the year, I was tossing up between two new London restaurants: Gauthier Soho (and particularly Alexis Gauthier's truffle risotto) and Koffman's. But then I realised that I'm using
PDANet to post this, and in terms of the most useful thing I've bought this year, it wins hands down.TOM: Andrew's vote fro that Antech Crémant reminds me that different vintages of their Cuvée Exception were wines of the month for me a couple of years back - I must taste
them again soon. Macademia Nut Honey Wine, eh? Mmmm...